Animal milking claws and methods of use

Abstract

Animal milking claws, assemblies, and methods of making and using same. Upper and lower claw portions, the upper claw portion having front and rear milk inlets, and the lower claw portion including a milk outlet. Milk inlets positioned generally tangentially to the upper claw portion force milk to flow on geodesic curves on the internal surface of the upper milk claw. Milk is forced to impact upon the vertical partition in the lower claw portion. The milk outlet has a reinforced portion extending at least a portion of a length of the milk outlet, with one or more reinforcing chamfers where the reinforced portion connects with the lower claw portion. Coolant for heat transfer may be provided to the milk outlet or the lower claw portion, or both.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An animal milking claw comprising:
 a) an upper claw portion having an internal surface, and a lower claw portion, the upper claw portion having a first rear milk inlet, a second rear milk inlet, a first front milk inlet, a second front milk inlet, and the lower claw portion having a milk outlet and a vertical partition positioned along a longitudinal axis of the lower claw portion;   b) the milk inlets positioned generally tangentially to the upper claw portion and configured so that milk flows on geodesic curves on the internal surface of the upper milk claw, and the milk is forced to impact upon the vertical partition in the lower claw portion;   c) the milk outlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the milk outlet connects to the lower claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the milk outlet, with one or more reinforcing chamfers positioned on each location where the reinforced portion of milk outlet connects with the lower claw portion.   
     
     
         2 . The animal milking claw of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a) the first rear milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the first rear milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the first rear milk inlet; 
 b) the second rear milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the second rear milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the second rear milk inlet; 
 c) the first front milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the first front milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the first front milk inlet; and 
 d) the second front milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the second front milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the second front milk inlet. 
 
     
     
         4 . The animal milking claw of  claim 1  further comprising the lower claw portion including a girder having a distal end and reinforcing chamfers positioned on each side of the girder where the girder meets the lower claw portion, the distal end of the girder mating with a girder alignment clip. 
     
     
         5 . An animal milking claw comprising:
 a) an upper claw portion having an internal surface, and a lower claw portion, the upper claw portion having a first rear milk inlet, a second rear milk inlet, a first front milk inlet, a second front milk inlet, and the lower claw portion having a milk outlet and a vertical partition positioned along a longitudinal axis of the lower claw portion;   b) the milk inlets positioned generally tangentially to the upper claw portion and configured so that milk flows on geodesic curves on the internal surface of the upper milk claw, and the milk is forced to impact upon the vertical partition in the lower claw portion;   c) the first rear milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the first rear milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the first rear milk inlet;   d) the second rear milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the second rear milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the second rear milk inlet;   e) the first front milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the first front milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the first front milk inlet; and   f) the second front milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the second front milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the second front milk inlet.   
     
     
         6 . The animal milking claw of  claim 5  further comprising the milk outlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the milk outlet connects to the lower claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the milk outlet, with one or more reinforcing chamfers positioned on each location where the reinforced portion of milk outlet connects with the lower claw portion. 
     
     
         7 . The animal milking claw of  claim 5  further comprising the lower claw portion including a girder having a distal end and reinforcing chamfers positioned on each side of the girder where the girder meets the lower claw portion, the distal end of the girder mating with a girder alignment clip. 
     
     
         8 . An animal milking claw assembly comprising:
 a) the animal milking claw of  claim 1 ; and   b) a plastic pulsation block ( 116 ) connected to the upper claw portion, the plastic pulsation block having a first vacuum source connection ( 138 ), a second vacuum source connection ( 140 ), a first teat vacuum connection ( 142 ), a second teat vacuum connection ( 144 ), a third teat vacuum connection ( 146 ), and a fourth teat vacuum connection ( 148 ), the first and second teat vacuum connections positioned on a first side of the plastic pulsation block, the third and fourth teat vacuum connections positioned on a second side of the plastic pulsation block, the first, second, third, and fourth teat vacuum connections positioned in a plane, the first and second vacuum source connections positioned on a first end of the plastic pulsation block and also located in the plane.   
     
     
         9 . The animal milking claw assembly of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a) the first rear milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the first rear milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the first rear milk inlet; 
 b) the second rear milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the second rear milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the second rear milk inlet; 
 c) the first front milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the first front milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the first front milk inlet; and 
 d) the second front milk inlet having a reinforced portion adjacent a location where the second front milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the second front milk inlet. 
 
     
     
         10 . The animal milking claw assembly of  claim 8  further comprising the lower claw portion including a girder ( 124 ) having a distal end ( 154 ) and reinforcing chamfers ( 136 ) positioned on each side of the girder where the girder meets the lower claw portion, the distal end of the girder mating with a girder alignment clip ( 134 ). 
     
     
         11 . The milking claw assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a partition ( 166 ) in the lower claw portion  104 . 
     
     
         12 . An animal milking claw assembly comprising:
 a) the animal milking claw of  claim 1 ; and   b) a coolant conduit ( 180 ) having a coolant fluid inlet ( 181 ) and a coolant fluid outlet ( 183 ), the coolant conduit positioned in close heat transfer contact with an exterior surface of a lower portion of the milk outlet conduit ( 114 ) and in spiral flow heat transfer contact with an exterior surface of the lower claw portion ( 104 ).   
     
     
         13 . The animal milking claw assembly of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a plastic pulsation block ( 116 ) connected to the upper claw portion, the plastic pulsation block having a first vacuum source connection ( 138 ), a second vacuum source connection ( 140 ), a first teat vacuum connection ( 142 ), a second teat vacuum connection ( 144 ), a third teat vacuum connection ( 146 ), a fourth teat vacuum connection ( 148 ), the first and second teat vacuum connections positioned on a first side of the plastic pulsation block, the third and fourth teat vacuum connections positioned on a second side of the plastic pulsation block, the first, second, third, and fourth teat vacuum connections positioned in a plane, the first and second vacuum source connections positioned on a first end of the plastic pulsation block and also located in the plane, a connection flange ( 182 ), and a connecting bore ( 184 ). 
 
     
     
         14 . The animal milking claw assembly of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a) the first rear milk inlet having a reinforced portion ( 126 ) adjacent a location where the first rear milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the first rear milk inlet; 
 b) the second rear milk inlet having a reinforced portion ( 128 ) adjacent a location where the second rear milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the second rear milk inlet; 
 c) the first front milk inlet having a reinforced portion ( 130 ) adjacent a location where the first front milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the first front milk inlet; and 
 d) the second front milk inlet having a reinforced portion ( 132 ) adjacent a location where the second front milk inlet connects to the upper claw portion and extending at least a portion of a length of the second front milk inlet. 
 
     
     
         15 . The animal milking claw assembly of  claim 12  further comprising the lower claw portion including a girder ( 124 ) having a distal end ( 154 ) and reinforcing chamfers ( 136 ) positioned on each side of the girder where the girder meets the lower claw portion, the distal end of the girder mating with a girder alignment clip ( 134 ). 
     
     
         16 . An animal milking claw assembly comprising:
 a) the animal milking claw of  claim 1 ; and   b) a 90-degree bracket ( 210 ) having a first (vertical) leg ( 212 ), a second (horizontal) leg ( 214 ), a through bore ( 215 ) in second leg ( 214 ), an arcuate slot ( 216 ) in first leg ( 212 ), and a generally linear slot ( 218 ) in first leg ( 212 ), the 90-degree bracket configured to secure a metal pulsation block to the upper claw portion ( 102 ).   
     
     
         17 . An animal milking claw assembly comprising:
 a) the animal milking claw of  claim 1 ; and   b) a 90-degree bracket ( 210 ) having a first (vertical) leg ( 212 ), a second (horizontal) leg ( 214 ), a through bore ( 215 ) in second leg ( 214 ), an arcuate slot ( 216 ) in first leg ( 212 ), and a generally linear slot ( 218 ) in first leg ( 212 ), the second leg ( 214 ) of the 90-degree bracket ( 210 ) securing a metal pulsation block to the upper claw portion ( 102 ), the metal pulsation block having a first vacuum source conduit ( 220 ), a second vacuum source conduit ( 222 ), a first teat vacuum conduit ( 224 ), a second teat vacuum conduit ( 226 ), a third teat vacuum conduit ( 228 ), and a fourth teat vacuum conduit ( 230 ), the first and second teat vacuum conduits ( 224 ,  226 ) fluidly connected with the first vacuum source conduit and positioned on a first side of the metal pulsation block in a first plane, the third and fourth teat vacuum connections ( 228 ,  230 ) fluidly connected with the second vacuum source conduit and positioned on a second side of the metal pulsation block in a second plane parallel to the first plane, the first and second vacuum source connections positioned on a first end of the metal pulsation block located in a third plane perpendicular to the first and second planes, the first and second vacuum source connections extending through the generally linear slot ( 218 ), and a connecting plate ( 232 ) connecting the first vacuum source conduit ( 220 ) with the second vacuum source conduit ( 222 ).   
     
     
         18 . An animal milking claw assembly comprising:
 a) the animal milking claw of  claim 1 ; and   b) a 90-degree bracket ( 210 ) having a first (vertical) leg ( 212 ), a second (horizontal) leg ( 214 ), a through bore ( 215 ) in second leg ( 214 ), an arcuate slot ( 216 ) in first leg ( 212 ), and a generally linear slot ( 218 ) in first leg ( 212 ), the second leg ( 214 ) of the 90-degree bracket ( 210 ) securing a metal pulsation block to the upper claw portion ( 102 ), the metal pulsation block having a first alternate vacuum source conduit ( 240 ), a second alternate vacuum source conduit ( 242 ), a first teat alternate vacuum conduit ( 244 ), a second teat alternate vacuum conduit ( 246 ), a third teat alternate vacuum conduit ( 248 ), and a fourth teat alternate vacuum conduit ( 250 ), the first and third teat alternate vacuum conduits ( 244 ,  248 ) fluidly connected with the first alternate vacuum source conduit ( 240 ) and positioned on a first side of the metal pulsation block in a first plane, the second and fourth teat alternate vacuum connections ( 246 ,  250 ) fluidly connected with the second alternate vacuum source conduit ( 242 ) and positioned on a second side of the metal pulsation block in a second plane parallel to the first plane, the first and second alternate vacuum source connections positioned on a first end of the metal pulsation block located in a third plane perpendicular to the first and second planes, the first and second vacuum source connections extending through the generally linear slot ( 218 ), and a connecting plate ( 252 ) connecting the first alternate vacuum source conduit ( 240 ) with the second alternate vacuum source conduit ( 242 ).   
     
     
         19 . An animal milking claw assembly comprising:
 a) the animal milking claw of  claim 1 ; and   b) a metal pulsation block ( 264 ) connected to the upper claw portion, the metal pulsation block having a first metal vacuum source connection ( 274 ), a second metal vacuum source connection ( 276 ), a first teat metal vacuum connection ( 278 ), a second teat metal vacuum connection ( 280 ), a third teat metal vacuum connection ( 282 ), and a fourth teat metal vacuum connection ( 284 ), the first and second teat metal vacuum connections positioned on a first side of the metal pulsation block, the third and fourth teat metal vacuum connections positioned on a second side of the metal pulsation block, the first, second, third, and fourth teat metal vacuum connections positioned in a plane, the first and second metal vacuum source connections positioned on a first end of the metal pulsation block and also located in the plane.   
     
     
         20 . The animal milking claw assembly of  claim 19  further comprising a shackle ( 260 ) connected to a metal cap ( 262 ), the metal cap integral with a metal connecting rod ( 194 ), a nut ( 266 ) threaded onto a distal end of the metal connecting rod ( 194 ). 
     
     
         21 . An animal milking claw assembly comprising:
 a) the animal milking claw of  claim 1 ;   b) a metal bracket ( 292 ) having a first portion ( 296 ), a second portion ( 298 ) connected to and generally perpendicular to the first portion, a third portion ( 302 ) connected to the second portion and angled to the second portion at an angle α ranging from about 120 to about 160 degrees, and fourth portion ( 304 ) connected to the third portion and angled to the third portion at an angle β ranging from about 130 to about 160 degrees, with a through hole ( 306 ) in the fourth portion ( 304 ); and   c) the metal bracket ( 292 ) securing a metal pulsation block ( 294 ) to the upper claw portion ( 102 ), the metal pulsation block having a front metal vacuum source conduit ( 312 ), a rear metal vacuum source conduit ( 314 ), a first front teat metal vacuum conduit ( 308 ), a second front teat metal vacuum conduit ( 310 ), a first rear teat metal vacuum conduit ( 316 ), and a second rear teat metal vacuum conduit ( 318 ), the first and second front teat metal vacuum conduits ( 308 ,  310 ) fluidly connected with the front metal vacuum source conduit ( 312 ) and forming a front-facing U-shaped end of the metal pulsation block ( 294 ), the first and second rear teat metal vacuum conduits ( 316 ,  318 ) fluidly connected with the rear metal vacuum source conduit ( 314 ) and forming a rear-facing U-shaped end of the metal pulsation block ( 294 ), the first and second front teat metal vacuum source connections ( 308 ,  310 ) extending around the second portion ( 298 ) of the metal bracket ( 292 ), and a connecting plate ( 320 ) connecting the front-facing U-shaped end with the rear-facing U-shaped end.   
     
     
         22 . A method of using the animal milking claw assembly of  claim 8  to perform a milking procedure on an animal, the method comprising:
 a) selecting a material for a pulsation block, the material selected from metal and plastic; 
 b) selecting a configuration for the pulsation block selected from front to back and side to side configurations; 
 c) optionally providing a coolant conduit with coolant flow therein in heat transfer contact with an external surface of the milk outlet, the lower milking claw portion, or both; 
 d) fitting the milk inlets to hoses and teat cups, and connecting the teat cups to an animal's teats; and 
 e) initiating a milking procedure on the animal.